The truly disgusting part of the story is that that town of 60 people took in $400,000+ last year with this scheme, and they are worried they can't make ends meet.

What the hell is so expensive, and how in hell can people still believe in big gubmint when it takes a half a million bucks to run a teeny town for a year.

Pull the plug on all this nonsense and let us keep our money.

Trailer of Justice.  LOL.

That probably sums up quite well the "government" in this "town".  [rolleyes]

[url]http://www.motorists.org/issues/tickets/traffic_ticket_system.html[/url]

It would be very interesting if one of our resident leo's could try and explain how traffic tickets are for safety and not revenue.

Yes this speed trap are a pile of ****!

Living in north florida we have more than our fair share of them.

the biggest one which makes the Triple AAA list every year is Waldo Florida.  

The speed enforcment is so bad that the state has put up signs with red flags the the speed limits are "STICKLY ENFORCED", and they have painted a bunch of white strips on the road to warn speeders.....if people are still getting caught then they need to be.

The biggest problems with speed traps is that they catch the travler not the local people ( turns out that it is a form of taxsation on people with out respenssition(sp).)

Here ticket revenue goes to the general fund.

My reason for writing tickets is because someone did something outstandingly stupid. Usually you'll get a warning.  

Writing tickets can be effective if done properly.  I'm familiar with one 17 mile strip of highway with 7 fatalities on it in one year, all excessive speed on the curves. Almost all on dry pavement,  in light traffic, in the daylight. No fatalities at all the previous 4 years.

What changed? The DPS trooper responsible for writing tickets on that highway retired, and has not been replaced.

The wrecks are getting so constant the county is putting a deputy out there on ovetime simply to write speeding tickets.


As for speed traps,  it looks like the citizens have this one well in hand by disbanding the town.

"Trailer of Justice"  Give me a break.  

Can't say I have you beat, but pretty much close to parity with beautiful Linndale up here in NE Ohio.  They've annexed a 1/4 mile stretch of highway I-71 (which, by the way, has NO exits in Linndale) and set up a speed trap there.  It's been estimated that the proceeds from this speed trap make up anywhere from 70 to 91% of their total village budget.

-----------
The village annually collects about $57,000 in taxes from its 159 residents and businesses, compared with as much as $388,000 in traffic fines, auditor records show.

In 1994, the Ohio General Assembly passed a law sponsored by Rep. Edward F. Kasputis, R-Olmsted Township, aimed at curbing the practice in Linndale.

The law bars police from patrolling the interstate for the "primary purpose" of writing speeding tickets when less than a half-mile of interstate passes through the community and it has no access ramp.

Linndale police have gotten around the law -- officers continue to patrol the interstate and write tickets -- by claiming that their "primary purpose" is not to write speeding tickets, Kasputis said.

"They say they are sitting out there in case a crash or an accident happens," he said. "If they happen to see a violation, then they go ahead and write a ticket."
-----------


Just some interesting reading:

[url]http://www.ccjm.org/1minuteconsults/nov7ed.htm[/url]

[url]http://usff.com/BOLT/articles/0496NMA.html[/url]

[url]http://www.dispatch.com/news/special/wheelsofjustice/woj3Apursestrings.html[/url]

New Rome ain't much different than the town I live in or the town my folks live in.  This is a system-wide problem, New Rome just happens to have it a bit more severely than other places.

Just last night I had a cop tailgating me on my way home.  I work nights and this assclown had nothing better to do than follow me around.  I finally pulled over and waved him by and then he drove really, super slow in front of me before he turned off onto another road--we were playing some kind of odd game, in other words.  I wanted to see if he would pull me over and try to write me a ticket for some bullshit violation.  I already had my "brown shirt" speech ready (I've been through this many times).

Talk about your overdeveloped sense of authority!  Jesus Christ!  I was so mad when I got home after that--it is not right to harass innocent people just because it is late at night and you have nothing better to do.  That's called manufacturing crime, and that's what law enforcement mostly is all about these days.  Our town has way too many cops on the payroll, all because their union recommends the number to the town and they buy into it.

I hope all cops rot in hell, even the so-called good ones--because they are in on the game, too.  If you don't speak up and do what is right, I have no problem throwing you in with the bad ones.  Just adhering to your own high standards isn't enough--the people around you have to know that their bullshit doesn't fly.  The only "good" cop is the one who resigns in disgust over bullcrap like this.

We don't have to worry about losing our freedom in this country because there isn't any to lose.

Garand--I don't know what you are talking about when it comes to the "general fund" the speed traps in my town are just as bad as anywhere.

Your argument is all wet, Paul.  "Speeding" as you call it, what is that?  Is it going 35 in a 25 zone?  35 in a 30?  There are times and places where it behooves you to drive carefully, but speed limits are just so much nonsense.  

My town has speed limits of 25 and 20mph.  You try driving that slow.  You can't get out of 2nd gear!  All it does is ensure that absolutely everyone is speeding, all the time.

dead babies...again...Paul why don't you tell us about the aftermath...about how the woman did NO time and only paid a fine......keep pushing brother.....nobody is falling for it.....

Oh yeah ibtl

I have no problem at all with the leo's writing tickets for speed violations. The problem is, MOST towns and counties do use this as revenue (tax) collection purposes and have set speed limits that are too low for the roads in question. (read speed traps for taxes)
We have several four lane divided roads, all well lighted and they have 25 to 30 mph speed limits !!!!  When I have called city planning and asked why that speed limit was chosen, I was told they did multiple studies and committee meetings to figure out what to set the speed limits at blah, blah, blah......
Kinda funny how the traffic cops all hang out on those roads and not the others which have higher speed limits, it gets real bad towards the end of the month, ie: quota time.
You want to have a real impact on speeders ???  then make the penalty mean something, don't use money as a weapon, use the point system and start revoking licenses and impounding habitual offenders cars. Do that and just watch how they all slow down.

There is a town in Ohio, Cuyahoga county that has 50 yards or so of Freeway through thier incorparation that they use to write hundreds of thousands of dollars of tickets on that stretch, a freeway, no kids on or near it  , just a money maker. So the kids get killed line "just don't cut it" it is a money issue, for the Municipality. (sorry for any mispelling spell check is not working again, and I am rotten at spelling)

North Texas has a similar little town. It's called Pantego and it is surrounded by Arlington and occupies a portion of Pioneer Parkway which is a busy thoroughfare connecting Fort Worth to Arlington. The residents of Pantego all have stickers on their cars with the town name on it presumably to keep the Pantego cops from pulling them over.

How many of you here do this? I do.

If you see a radar trap on the other side of the road, you flash your brights at the oncoming traffic to warn them.

I don't know if this is the universal sign for "Radar Trap Ahead" or if it is just a NY thing.

I do. It used to be illegal in TX to warn other drivers by flashing your lights. Then the powers that be realized that it slowed people down and it is now legal.

There is an other solution…  Don’t speed.  Now, before you crucify me know this; I was born and raised in Detroit.  If you are going 10 over in Michigan the cop will pull you over and ask if you are having engine trouble.  I grew up at 10 over.  I used to speed everywhere.  Occasionally I got tagged.

I agree that speeding tickets are all about the $$$ and not safety.  That is abundantly clear. However, today I have strict financial goals.  Paying the speeding tax is not in the plan.  I have installed cruse control and I use it all the time.  I go the speed limit everywhere .   Why?  I don’t want to give the traffic cops the pleasure of generating revenue from me.  Two, I stay in the right lane and I never have to pass anyone.  I don’t get in other drivers way.  I don’t jockey for position, I don’t play games with other drivers.  Three, It is a totally stress free way to drive.  I arrive only minutes latter than I would have at 10 over.  I am relaxed and totally not stressed by driving.  Four, I save gas. In a suburban that means something.  Five, I seem to attract more police escorts than I ever have.  I guess driving the speed limit or under is reason for suspicion.  I have yet to be pulled over while driving the speed limit though.  

Many of you undoubtedly think I have lost my marbles.  Some of you will try it and see how lovely it is to drive care free and arrive relaxed.  

Last point.  If everyone drove the speed limit for one month there would be a massive revenue shortfall and budget crisis.  I am doing my part to stop the cash flow.  

I liked this one:

[b]Q: Does New Rome have a diverse Police Department?[/b]

A: You must be kidding.  It's about as diverse as a NASCAR field.  To our knowledge, the entire police department is a good old boy fraternity of white men.

ha ha NASCAR field! What a riot.

That whole deal sounds like a con. Look at the little map. Their speed trap is right in front of the hospital! That's about as low as it gets.

Well I'm not sure I can. Because part of the "system" is that most citations are non-criminal, meaning that money can be the only "punishment", not jail time. So non-criminal citations will alway have money associated.

As far as profit, I think that the math doesn't work out, at least for us. In WI municipal courts, local town, village, city, keep about half of the money involved in citations, but the depsoits on a citation are about $40.00. I think at $40.00 (the issuing authority 1/2) each you would have a hard time paying for a officer on citations, when you consider all the costs. Officer pay, benefits, car, equipment, gas, training, court costs, administrative cist etc. You may be able to "offset" the cost of an officer. But that goes out the window as soon as the officer gets tied up on a criminal investigation, call for service, etc.

Theoritcally it also works best in organizations that don't have things like detectives, full time administrators, etc. So if you have absolutely no crime..........

Then again where I work, 500,000 people appx., we are up to 25(appx) traffic fatalities. The last 5 in the last 5 days. We have had 0 homicides.

I have very rarley heard of people being told to write citations. Yes it happens but it's usaully part of a larger speach, ie you ain't pulling your weight, in several areas.......

In fact when that happens the usual response is to pick up the pace on seatbelt violations, which we are encouraged to write. FYI in WI you can't stop people for seatbelt violations, and they are $10.00 citations. So they stop a vehicle for a traffic violation, and issue a warning for that, speed, registrations etc, then issue a seatbelt ticket. By the way it costs $38.00 to "process" each citation........

We are also "on the net", where we receive citizen complaints about where THEY want traffic enforcement. It is one of the most common requests that we receive. If we are a PUBLIC agency we can't simply "blow off" requests for action by the PUBLIC.

Here is my take on the speeding ticket issue.  If the true purpose of the speed limit was public safety we would see the LEO's driving the speed limit and setting the example.  Leadership by example.  After all, when was the last time you saw a driver blow by a LEO crusier when the cop was doing the speed limit?

If they setup for an ambush at a certain spot, then the motive is revenue and not public safety.  The speed trap only affects a small percentage of drivers at what become predictable ambush locations, and the locations are only minute fractions of the LEO's area of responsibility.  Beyond which most folks speed like Hell is chasing them.

Gee last night........ I have gotten some wild speeders that fly by me, while I am doing the speed limit. Police cars have rearview mirrors, just reminding those of you that fly up to a cop car and slam on the binder 10' behind the car.      We see you.



I understand your point. But I can also predict which roads people "fly" on. LEO's also have to do their job safely, so some areas are better suited than others. Not to mention citizen requests for enforcement in certain areas.

The thing I don;t like is sitting near a speed limit "drop" and getting people for not slowing fast enough.

This is my alternative to speed limits that I've had for years: instead of speed limits have recommended speeds posted. If you have an accident and they can prove that you were going above the recommended speed nail the guy with a VERY expensive penalty.

Speeding tickets around me are easy to avoid that is one good thing about living in the city. Philly cops do not have radar. They have to time you to get your speed and you can plainly see the lines painted on I 95 where they time people. As I approach one of those spots I look over, and if there is a cop I slow down. If not I keep on truckin. I've jammed on my brakes at the last second when noticing a cop sitting at one of these spots and had the guy behind me pass me and then he gets pulled over. LOL

I have a friend who is a PA state trooper and he says that no one starts writting tickets till at LEAST 70 in a 55 zone. Most don't start writting till you go over 75 in a 55.

The jackass that blows past the cop while the cop is doing the speed limit is hardly the norm I am sure.  But is in my opinion the reason the speed limit is posted was to catch flagrant violations of just that type.  However, those in office tend to want to stay in office and revenue gathered by the issuance a speeding tickets via ambush is a means to retain that office.

I'm no cop.  But I know just as well as they do which roads folks like to "fly" on.  I also learn where the ambush positions are located and adjust my speed as needed.  If the intention is public safety you would patrol those known areas and not pick a single point for ambush.  And I do know a bit about patrols and ambushes.

It's not all that unusual either. My best was one that went by me at 108mph, I was driving a fully marked light bar equipped vehicle. LSD and MJ probalby affected his vision.

Some of my co-workers have caught others at around 100 mph. 1 I know got passed at 100mph, on a 2 lane road, during the day, by a sober driver.



I think speed limits are a somewhat arbitrary device to make large volumes of traffice move smoothly, so that drivers know what speed traffic will be going in any particular area. Of course most of the "flagrant speeders" I see on my commute are also the tailgating, zipping between other cars, no turn signal guys.......

I can't comment on the second part.



I guess, unless the officer is also using that spot to do reports, because offers good access to the rest of  their area, and it's easy to get back on the road from there.



Ooooh-rah.

I agree. Writing tickets for less than 10-15 over is the worst PR possible. DON'T blame the LEO's though. Do you really think we enjoy the constant confrontations? Blame the chiefs who require quotas. They can call them "Performance objectives" or whatever, but they're still quotas. Also, unless he city, township. or whatever has it's own court, only a fraction of the money goes to the agency. I think about 3%.The rest goes to the muny court, state, etc.  It costs more in wear and tear on the cruiser than that.I try to only write on violations where there was a good chance of an accident. Red lights, stop signs, DWUIA'S, and really excessive speed. Yes I agree, writing tix to generate $$$ is total BS......

Nope Paul I wasn't calling you a liar...I meant that the system sucks and telling boogie man stories was not the way to win people over to your side...when we all know that the people-politicians-who preach about the evils of speeding, etc, are the same people that let these murderers back on the streets....here's my story- School in north dallas county...young man drunk and driving...kills three girls in a car..penalty...FIVE FRICKING YEARS....so don't tell me about the safety issue on this...it is all a big revenue project. And please tell me how I am supposed to act when I see this multiple murderer walking down the aisle in Kroger's?

I fail to see how any city or county makes money on traffic tickets.

Considering you must:
Recruit, hire, & train the officer
Equip him and pay his salary/benifits
Pay the printer for the ticket forms.
Pay all the clerks who process the tickets.
Pay the judge who hears the case.
Pay the officer overtime to appear in court.

How many tickets is the break even point?

My last time in traffic court the fine was $112.00 and they had to pay me $200.00 in overtime. So my writing that ticket cost the county at least $88.00

I live in Columbus, and let me tell you, New Rome really is all about the tickets.  They suck the big one.  We've got small municipalities that you have to be careful of (Perry Township, Clintonville, Upper Arligton, New Albany) but New Rome is the absolute worst.  They make Johnstown cops seem downright competent.  Where Columbus cops wouldn't even look twice (you have to really screw around to get pulled over) New Rome has a field day.